Duke  University  Libraries 

Your  soul-is   i 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #943 


[for  the  soldiers.  ]  No.   16, 


YOUR  SOUL— IS  IT  SAFE  ? 


A  QUESTION  FOR  EVERY  ONE. 


YOU  HAVE  A  SOUL. 

If  an  aged  stranger  should  meet  you,  and  earnestly  inquire  as  to 
the  safety  of  some  earthlj-  object  you  most  dearly  value  :  "Mun,  your 
property,  your  character,  your  family,  are  they^sife  ?''  "Child,  your 
father,  your  mother,  are  they  safe?"  "Mother,  your  child,  is  it  safer 
are  you  sure  of  it?"  the  question  would  at  once  arrest  Your  attention, 
and  excite  a  crowd  of  hurried  and  anxious  thouglus^m  your  mind. 
Who  is  this  stronger  ?  what  has  awakened  hh^ma'uifest  'earnestness  '.' 
and  why  does  he  address  this  inquiry  to  irieT  .  He  knows  what  I  pos- 
sess, and  what  I  most  dearly  value.  Does  he  know  of  some  danger  of 
which  I  am  ignorant  ?  ('an  he  tell  me  any  way  of  averting  or  escap- 
ing it  ?  Would  you  not  say  to  him,  "What  know  you  of  my  property, 
or  my  character,  or  my  child  ?  What  is  the  danger  you  intimate  \ 
whence  docs  it  come  ;  and  how  can  it  be  removed  ?" 

Dear  reader,  a  stranger  addresses  you  in  this  little  book,  and  earn- 
estly asks  the  still  more  momentous  question  :  "Your  soul — is  it  safe  r"1 
He  knows  that  you  have  a  soul,  and  that  that  soul  is  in  danger,  He 
can  tell  whence  that  peril  comes,  and  how  it  may  be  averted,  and  your 
soul  be  safe  for  ever. 

Will  you  not  give  one  brief  hour's  attention  to  him  ;  go  with  him 
through  these  pages,  and  see  if  a  man  who  has  been  reading  and 
thinking  about  the  human  soul  for  forty  years  may  not  be  able  to  teli 
you  something  of  that  soul,  of  its  condition,  its  perils,  and  its  preciou- 
ness,  that  you  do  not  know  ;  or  at  least,  by  God's  blessing  teach  you 
to  give  to  these  things  a  deeper  attention  than  you  have  ever  given  ? 

You  have  a  Soul.  It  is  not  your  body,  not  your  life,  but  a  spirit 
that  is  distinct  from,  and  independent  of  both  these.  You  are  not 
mere  matter,  however  wonderfully  organized  ;  you  have  miod,  and 
consciousness,  and  will  ;  you  can  reason  and  resolve,  but  mere  matter 
<~annot  do  this.  You  are  not  a  mere  animal,  that  can  see,  and  feel,  and 
hear  ;  you  can  understand.  You  can  conceive  of  things  that  are  pure- 
ly spiritual,  of  angels  and  of  God  ;  but  only  a  spiritual  nature  can 
have  any  idea  of  spiritual  objects.  A  material  mirror  cannot  reflect 
mind,  but  only  things  that  have  form  or  color,  that  are  material  like 
itself. 


Your  soul  is  independent  of  your  bodily  senses,  for  it   often  cor- 
and  contradicts  their  testimony.     To  the  eye  the  distant  hil   is 

but  a  little  mound,  and  the  twinkling  star  a  shining  speck;  but  to  the 
mind  one  is  a  Wist  and  lofty  eminence,  and  the  other  a  glorious  world. 

In  the"  solitude  of  your  chamber,  and  amidst  the  silence  and 
ness  of  night,  when  no  object  meets  the  eye,  no  sound  fills  upon  the 
car.  and  no  bodily  sense  is  I,  awake  or  asleep,  there  is  some- 

thing in  you  that  can  see  through  the  gloom,  and  range  beyond  the 
that  holds  your  body,  can  revisit  former  scenes,  recall  past 
associations,  and  recognize  the  forms  and  hear  the  voices  of  distant  01 
departed  friends.  Now,  it  is  not  the  eye,  the  ear  that  does  all  this  ; 
not  matter,  but  mind;  not  the  body,  but  the  soul. 

The  mind  is  often  happy  while  the  body  suffers,  often  vigorous 
when  the  body  is  weak;  and  may  it  not  live  when  the  body  dies? 

All  the  conscious  and  intelligent  beings  of  whom  we  have  any 
knowledge  are  spirits — devils,  and  angels,  and  Qrod.  You  are  a  con- 
scious and  intelligent  being;  and  should  not  this  lead  to  the  conclus- 
ion that  you  are  a  spirit  too? 

David  evidently  felt  this  when  he  said,  "Into  thy  hands  I  commit 
my  spirft;"  and  Jesus,  when  he  adopted  the  words  of  David;  and 
Stephen,  when  he  said,  "Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit."  What  did 
the^e  coVn  initio  (.\ody  Was  it  the  body — the  material  part?  Was  it  the 
breath,  the  last  portion  of  air  they  inhaled?  Oh,  no  ;  it  was  their 
souls,  their  conscious  and  immortal  being. 

"Abraham  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  ;" 
but  how  was  this?  lie  was  not  buried  with  them  ;  iheir  graves  were 
far  away  in  Mesopotamia  and  Chaldea,  ami  his  in  Canaan;  but  his 
soul  departed  to  the  assembly  of  the  blessed,  and  was  gathered  to  his 
pious  fathers.  Paul  believed  that  he  was  a  spirit,  distinct  and  separ- 
able from  the  body,  and  said,  "We  are  willing  rather  to  be  absent 
from  the  body,  and  present  with  the  Lord."  Sfes.;  and  you  too  have 
a.  soul — you  are  a  spiiit  ;  your  body  is  but  the  earthly  house,  the  mor- 
tal vestment  of  your  soul.     Is  that  spirit  safe? 

You  have  a  SOUL,  an  IKUQ  r : ;  it.  can  never  die —never  cease 

to  think  and  feel,  to  enjoy  or  Buffer.  Absolutely  and  essentially, 
"  (5od  only  hath  immortality,"  but  he  hath  conferred  immortality  on 
you. 

The  desire  of  eternal  existence  is  inherent  in  man,  is  prevalent  even 
amidst  the  Ignorance  and  superstition  of  heathenism*,  and  (lod  has 
implanted  this  desire  in  the  human  heart.  Did  he  inspire  that,  wish 
only  to  disappoint  it?  Did  he  awaken  this,  the  noblest  hope  of  in  in, 
for  naught''  No  earthly  creature  but  man  looks  and  longs  for  im- 
mortal existence,  and  if'he  is  not  immortal,  his  loftier  conceptions  and 
aspirations  a:c  hut    capacities  of  deeper    wretchedness — the  I 

■■•,  that  lie  has  a  conscious  existence,  and    that   he.  is  destined  to 
lose  it  for  ever.     Dut  it  is  not,  it  cannot  be  so. 

The  moral  nature  of  man  involves  the  necessity  of  bis  ftilure  ex- 
istence, (iod  must  have,  had  some  wise  and  holy  purpose  in  the 
Creation  of  such  a  being  as  you  are — must  have  had  a  definite  will 
concerning  your  character  and  cThiduct;  and  that  purpose  and  that 
will  arc    revealed  to  you  in  his  holy  word.     Your  attention    and  obe- 


dience  to  that  Word,  or  your  neglect  and  violation  of  it,  must  be  f»l- 
by  reward  or  punishment.     Were  it  not  for  the  expeetati  in  >  t 
a  future  state,  there  would  be  no  moral  government.     Every  form  ol 
Bclf-mdulgcnce  and  sin  would  be  fearlessly  perpetrated,  and  all 
and  happiness  would  disappear  from  this  world,  if  the:  e  were    i 
pectation  of  a  world  to  come. 

Th-  .  of  God  indicates  and  insure--  the  immortality  of  your 

souj.  Wise  and  Kind  and  just  ;&  he  is,  sin  must  be  dwobedience  t# 
bis  will,  and  dishonoring  to  his  government!     Yet  th  A  bad 

are,  as  to  this  world,  equally  favored  and  afflicted.  Virtue  avif'ts  ne 
earthly  calamity,  ami  vice  insures  no  preseftl  punishment. 

Can  this.be  the  end  Of  the  one1,  or  of  the   other?  It  is   impossible 
— imp  the  character  of  God.     There  mustb  «  a  future  world 

— a  in  reckoning  and  recompense.    Yes,  d 

oul  is  immortal.     Your  body  may  decay  and  die  ;  all  itswondei- 
iclure  be  disorganized,  and  all  its  line  and  vivid  sensibilitts  ho 
i  longer  see,  nor  the  ears    hear,  nor    the  nerves 
nor  the  heart  pulsate.     Impassive  and  insensible  as  the    c'.ods   that 
it,  it  will  not  feel  the  pressnre  of  the  foot   that  treads   upon  its 
lowly  bed,  nor  the  touch  of  the  spade  that  turns    Up  the    moid. 
dust;  but  your  sou!  will  yei  be  •  .  its  peremptions  more  clear. 

and  its  sensibilities  more  vivid  than  when  in  this  earthly  dwelling;  it 
will  live  in  bliss  or  woe,  in  heaven  or  hell  for  eveiv  That  soul  is  you 
— your  nobler  self.     Is  your  soul  safe? 

You  have  a  sen,,  a  PRECIOUS  soul.    Precious  in  its  own  nature,  and 
of  gr< .-.  ious  capacities;  it  can  think  and  know    and  will,  and 

To  man  in  a  savage  state,  bodily  vigor   and  brutal 
_c  are  the  noblest  quaftt'es,  though  in  these  he    is    equal 

y  some  of  the  beasts  around     him  ;  but    to     civilized  and 
educated  man,  intelligence;    knowledge,  is  afar    nobler    attribute  of 
Ejects  of  his  knowledge  are  the    tests    of  its  real 
VVhat  then  Can  be  so  ennobling  as  the    knowledge  of  God? 
ul  is  capable  of  knowing  ' 
I  reciousin  Its  very  immortality!     This  endows  it  with   a  kind 
of  infinitude,  and  impresses  upon  it  and  incalculable     worth:     it  will 
continue    for  ever.     Even  ten]  •  .  ■•  valued  by  their  dur- 

ation :  a  cottage  in  perpetuity  is  worth  more  than  a  palace  for  an  hour; 
k  life  of  ordinary  enjoyment  is  better  than  a  moment  of  cestacy  ;  what 

ta1  consciousness,  a    power    to  think 

and  learn,  to  acquire  and  enjoy  for  ever?  This  is  the  capacity  efyour 

pacity  gibes' to  it  inconceivable    importance   and  pre- 

ci'Hisness.     You  may  learn  the  worth  of  your  soul  by  considering  how 

it  is  estimated   b}'  wiser  and  holier  beings  than  yourself. 

Ghd  rnhtm  it.  So  precious  was  the  soul,  yea,  your 
M)ul,  to  him,  that  its  interests  occupied  his  thoughts  in  the  nasi 
nity,  and  fee  foresaw  its  ruin  and  provided  for  its  redemption.  As 
soon  as  sin  had  blighted  the  soul  of  man,  he  commanded  the  sacrifi- 
cial altar  to  be  raised,  and  the  bleeding  victim  offered,  as  the  hopeful 
shadow  ofth  icrifice  to  come;  and  as  priest    after  priest  roin- 

I  at  that  altar,  and  prophet  afte  '  prophet  unfolded    the    plan  of 
,  all  proved  and  illustrated  God's    high    appreciation   of  the 


▼alue  of  the  soul,  and  showed  that  its  salvation  was  at  once  the  warm* 
•est  desire  of  his  gracious  heart,    and    the  grand    object  of  Ins  eternal 

providence. 

Set •how  Christ  values  the  human  soul.  He  paid,  "What  shrill  it 
prot.t  a  ni:m,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul?" 
And  his  entire  history  proves  that  to  him  souls  were  far  more  precious 
than  wealth,  or  ease,  or  honor,  or  life,  or  worlds. 

"The  redemption  of  the  soul  is  precious."  Who  is  able  "to  redeem 
his  brother,  or  give  to  God  a  ransom  for  him?"  Only  Christ  ;  and 
"He  e.ave  himself  for  us  ;"  "laid  down  his  life."  Nothing  else  was  of 
sufficient  value.  "Ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corruptible  things,  as 
silver  and  gold,  but  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ." 

S  e  how  angels  valve  the  soul.  Ever  the  friends  of  man,  they  re- 
joiced in  his  creation,  witnessed  his  fell,  watched  the  history  of  hie 
redemption.  They  estimate  the  worth  of  souls  by  their  own  experi- 
ence of  bow  much  holy  spirits  can  enjoy,  and  by  their  observation  of 
what  fallen  spirits  can  suffer.  The  salvation  of  a  soul  is,  t<>  them,  a 
fact  of  tremendous  importance.  They  watch  for  the  first  tear  of  pen- 
itence, the  first  cry  for  pardoning  giace  ;  it  touches  all  their  hearts, 
and  is  told  through  all  their  glorious  !egions  ;  and  ''there  is  joy  in 
the  presence  of  thi-  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth" — joy, 
loftier  bliss,  and  louder  s.ongs  in  heaven.  And  why  ?  Is  it  that  some 
new  system  of  world*  is  created  ;  or  some  other  order  of  intelligent 
being-  called  into  existence  ;  or  some  mighty  enemy  of  God  and  good 
subdued  and  punished?  No;  but  that  a  fallen  man  is  created  anew  ; 
that  the  good  Shepherd  has  brought  back  a  wandering  sheep  ;  that 
a  prodigal  son  has  returned  to  his  eternal  Father  ;  that  one  precious 
soul  is  saved  tVom  the  wrath  to  come. 

And  you  have  a  soul.  Your  body  —  those  hands  and  feet  and  eyes, 
that  heart  and  head,  are  yours  ;  but  they  are  not  you.  You  move 
those  limbs,  hear  through  those  ears,  and  see  through  those  eyes;  but 
your  soul  asserts  its  superiority  lo  them  all.  That  soul  can  range 
where  those  feet  have  never  trod — can  perceive  what  those  eye*  have 
not  seen,  nor  those  ears  heard  -  can  apprehend  and  hope  for  future 
and  eternal  joy,  when  your  ''earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle"  is  mould- 
ered into  dust.  You  are  a  spirit,  an  embodied  spirit,  yet  a  spirit  im- 
material, immortal,  and  precious  beyond  all   human    calculation. 

Haw  you  rightly  appreciated  and  cared  for  the  welfare  of  your 
soul?  What  portion  of  your  attention,  what  part  of  every  day  have 
you  given  to  its  interests?  What  efforts  have  you  employed,,  what 
prayers  have  you  offered  for  its  salvation?  But  why  do  1  ask  this? 
Does  that  soul  need  your  care?  Is  it  exposed  to  evil?  Can,  its  eternal 
happiness  be  in  dangei?  Oh,  yes;  the  evils  and  enemies  that  threaten 
it  are  many  and  mighty  ;  and  the  ruin  they  threaten  is  irretrievable 
and  everlasting. 


YOUR  SOUL  IS  EXPOSED  TO  DANGER. 

Danger  to  our  earthly  interests  in  vaned  according  to  the  source 
from  whence  it  arises,  and  the  objects  it  assails. 

Is  it  our  character  it  threatens  ?  This  may  be  injured  by  mis- 
understanding or  misrepresentation  on  the  part  of  others,  or  by  mis 
conduct  on  our  own  part.  Is  it  our  property  that  is  endangered? 
This  may  be  lost  through  improvidence  in  us,  or  through  failure  or 
dishonesty  in  those  with  whom  we  have  to  do.  Is  it  life  that  is  in 
peril  ?  This  may  he  destroyed  by  internal  disease,  or  outward  vio- 
lence, or  by  the  inflictions  of  offended  justice  ;  and  this  last  idea,  the 
dangers  of  life,  we  will  employ  as  an  illustration  of  the  perils  which 
threaten  the  immortal  soul  ;  only  premising  that  the  death  of  th 
is  not  the  extinction  of  its  being,  but  the  loss  of  its  happiness. 

Your  tout  is  depraved,  is  sinful  ;  and  sin  is  the  disease  ol  the  soul. 
Bin  impairs  the  vigor  of  the  soul,  disturbs  its  healthful 
action,  and  disorganizes  its  vital  powers;  and  if  its  influence 
be  not  arrested  by  some  sovereign  remedy,  its  effect  will  be  daily 
aggravated,  and  ultimately  fatal.  The  healthful  condition  of  the  soul 
is  love  to  (rod,  devotedness  to  his  service,  and  dependence  on  his  bless- 
ing. But  where  on  earth  is  tie  soul  in  this  condition  now?  Look 
around  on  the  masses  of  mankind,  and  see  the  proofs  of  a  universal 
depravity.     It  pervades  all  ranks  of  human  society,  from    the'.  I 

to  the  lowest ;  it  spreads  itself  over  OUT  common  nature;  and  in 
the  strong  and  startling  words  of  eternal  truth,  '-The  whole  he  d  is 
Kick,  and  the  whole  heart  faint ;  from  the  sole  of  the  foot  even  unte 
the  head  there  is  no  soundness  m  it." 

Look  witliin,  on  your  own  spiritual  condition,  and  say,  do  you  love 
God,  and  serve  him  as  he  requires,  as  you  were  intended  lo  do,  as  aa 
intelligent  and  favored  creature  should?  No;  you  are  conscious  that 
you  do  not.  Hut  how  is  this  V  your  soul  is  fallen,  depraved,  diseased; 
and  that  spiritual  malady  is  ever  increasing,  enfeebling  your  better 
purposes,  defiling  your  heart,  and  displaying  its  stranger  symptoms  in 
vour  life  :  that  disease  will  at  length  be  fatal ;  and  unless  it  is  arrested 
by  the  hearing  greet  of  God,  it  must  issue  in  eternal  death.  Were 
your  body  under  the  action  of  some  dangerous  affliction,  you  would 
seek  the  aid  of  the  highest  skill,  and  submit  to  most  nauseous  medi- 
cines. Have  you  so  readily  and  anxiously  sought  for  your  iiaeased 
soul  "the  balm  that  is  in  Gilead,  :>nd  the  Physician  there?" 

Your  smd  is  exposed  to  external  danger.  Though  no  disease  should 
enfeeble  the  powers,  and  threaten  the  destruction  of  your  natural  life, 
yet  it  nii'jht  be  imperilled  by  external  evils.  'What  avails  the; 
health  of  the  hardy  seaman  when  the  sunken  rock,  or  the  boisterous 
wind,  or  the  towering  wave,  sinks  his  vessel  and  himself  in  the  mighty 
deep?  And  what  the  strong  arm  and  courageous  heart  of  the  brave 
soldier,  when  the  gleaming  aword  or  the  whistling  bullet  strikes  him 
down  in  death?  Nay,  what  the  vigorous  tread,  and  the  happy  antic- 
ipations of  the  homeward  traveller,  when  the  robber's  weapon  pierces 
lo  his  heart  ? 

Would  you  be  safe  if  exposed  to  the  potion  of  a  tainted  atmosphere, 
•r  the  contagion  of  a  deadly  pestilence  ?      Yet  such  is  the   dangerous 


influence  of  the  worldly  and  wicked  habits  and  examples  that  sur- 
round you  on  every  hand— the  all  but  unviv. rsal  neglect  of  religion 
and  (J.  Ki,  blighting  all  holy  fueling  and  heaven  ward  thought  and  noble 

purpose  The  very  commonness  of  irreligion  is  its  greatest  power  for 
evil ;  it  appears  like  the  assumption  6f  singular  wisdom,  or  the 
abandonment  of  Christian  charity,  to  deny  the  piety  and  safety  ofthe 
majority  of  mankind,  though  God  has  said,  "Thou  shalt  not  follow  a 
multitude  to  do  evil." 

Would  you  be  safe  travelling  through  an  unknown  country,  amid 
many  devious  ways,  all  but    one    of    which     were  deeply    perilous? 

Would  conflicting  testimonies  as  to  the  one  safe  way  ally  your 
anxiety?  Would  it  not  augmvnt  your  danger  if  the  false  ways  were 
ever  the  fairest  and  the  most  frequented  I 

Well,  such  are  the  perplexities  and  the  perils  of  the  journey  of  life; 
"for  strait  is  the  gate  and  narrow*  is  the  way  which  leadeth  unto  life; 
and  few  there  be  that  find  it"—  yea,  none,  «  ithuut  the  chart  of  truth 
and  the  teaching  ofthe  Holy  Spirit 

Would  you  he  *«/<nn  the  battle-held  V  Would  you  think  yourself 
safe,  even  if  your  heart  were  brave,  and  your  arm  were  strong?  This 
world  is  a  battle-field,  in  which  we  must  contend,  "not  against  flesh 
and  blood,  but  against  principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers 
of  the  darkness  of  this  world."  Tiue.your  enemies  are  invisible;  but 
is  that  a  reason  for  indifference  and  imaginary  security  ?  Does  the 
soldier,  if  warned  of  the  approach  ofa  powerful  foe,  feel  secure. because 
lie  sees  not  the  hosts  that  threaten  him?  Does  he  notdread  the  covert 
enemy  far  more  than  the  open  assault  and  the  expected  battle? 

Your  spiritual  enemy  is  as  crafty  as  he  is  cruel.  II  will  endeavor 
to  make  you  doubt  his  approach  :  yea,  his  very  existence.  He  for- 
bears to  alarm,  that  he  may  the  more  readily  destroy.  Does  the  as- 
sassin tell  his  intended  victim  where  he  will  hide  himself,  or  when  he 
will  deal  the  fatal  blow?  Do  the  ambushed  warriors  warn  those  they 
would  destroy  of  the  place  of  their  concealment,  or  the  force  with 
which  the  on  laught  will  be  made?     No  ;  nor  does  the  enemy  of  souls. 

He  knows  that  a  mistaken  sense  of  security  in  you  is  the  n;o.-t  cer- 
tain ground  of  triumph  to  himself;  and  hence  he  veils    the   malice  of 
his  purpose,  speaks  to  you  in    accents    soft  as    those  of  an    an 
light,  and  tells  you  that  there  is  no  danger  to  your    soul,  no  need  of 
anxiety  ;md  endeavor  for  its  salvation. 

Are  you  fearful  that  your  heart  and  life   are  not    such  as  God  can 
approve?     He  will    present    every    form    of  ungodliness    in  a  fairer 
light  ;  and  persuade  you  that  earthly  Blind*  dness  is  but  commendable 
care  lor  your  interest;  sensuality,  but  innocent  enjoyment;  and  aj 
sin  but  the  necessary  consequence  ofthe  infirmity  of  human    nature. 

Are  you  young?  He-  will  assure  you  that  death  Mid  eternity  are 
fir  away  from  you  ;  that  solemn  thought  is  inappropriate  to  the  youth- 
ful mind  ;  and  immediate  preparation  for  another  world  unnecessary 
to  one  who  has  a  long  life  before  him  in  this  world. 

Are  you  aged,  and  yet  unrenewed?  He  will  suggest  that  your  life 
has  not  been  so  guilty  as  to  deserve  condemnation  ;  and  if  you  will 
not  believe  this,  he  will  sternly  say  that  your  day  of  giace  is  gone 
by,  and  it  is  unwise  and  useless  to  cloud  the  few   enjoyments  of  your 


age  with  g'oomy  forebodings  of  a  doom  that  it  is  too  late  to  alter, 
whatever  it  may  be. 

Such  is  your "spiritual  enemy,  and  such  are  "the  wiles  of  the  devil," 
".A  poll  yon  the  destroyer  !'' 

Head"  the  testimonies  of  Scripture  as  to  the  machinations  he  has 
employed,  the  sins  be  has  occasioned,  and  the  souls  he  has  ruined; 
hear  the  frequent  and  solemn  admonitions  6f  God  to  "beware"  of  him 
to  "watch"  against  him,  to  "resist"  him  ;  and  you  will  feel  the  truth 
that,  not  only  from  in w  i  rd  depravity,  but  also  from  external  evils, 
your  soul  is  exposed  to  danger. 

Your  soul  is  under  the  cm  ■>  of  God.     Though    no  disease 

within,  no  foes  without,  should  endanger  our  natural  life,  that  life 
may  be  forfeited  by  crime,  and  righteously  sacrificed  by  offended 
justice.  The  unhappy  prisoner  in  yonder  cell  is  in  perfect  health,  and 
uo  hand  of  unlawful  violence  is  armed  against  him;  yet  his  hoursare 
numbered,  and  to-morrow  he  must  die.  Do  not  think  that  the  refe- 
rence is  inciting  or  inapplicable  ;  however  humiliating,  it  is  just  and 
appropriate.  Then'  is  a  higher  authority  than  human  governments, 
and  there  arc  laws  more  imperative  and  unchanging  than  the  laws  of 
man.  "There  is  a  God  that judgelh  in  the  earth."  His  'law  is  holy 
and  his  commandment  holy,  just,  and  good  ;"and  you  have  offended 
that  God,  you  have  violated  that  law,  and  aie  exposed  to  iis  tremen- 
dous penalty!  Guilt  is  the  universal  character  of  our  fallen  race  ;  'all 
have  sinned,"  "the  whole  world  is  become  guilty  before  God,"  "and 
judgements  come  upon  all  men  to  condemnation."  You.  my  dear 
reader,  are  a   criminal    under    sentence   of  death— the  death  of  the 

BOUI. 

It  may  he  you  have  not  seriously  thought  cf  this,  though  you 
have  often  said  to  God,"  We  have  done  the  things  we  ought  not  to  have 
done;"  or,  it  may  he,  you  have  felt  your  guilt,  and  said,  "Enter  not 
into  judgment  with  thy  servant,  0  Lord  ;"  but  in  either  case  the  fact 
is  the  same  :  you  are  a  sinner,  and  as  a  sinner,  you  are  righteously 
condemned. 

The  doomed  criminal  may  sleep  in  peace  through  the  last  hours  of 
life— may  (".ream  of  joys  gone  by,  or  joys  to  come  ;  but  justice  is  ever 
vigilant,  and  the  instruments  of  death  are  ready  :  he  will  awake,  but 
to  die.  So  the  sinner  may  slumber  in  imaginary  security,  and 
bright  visions  of  life  and  pleasure  may  delight  his  heart,  but  his 
"damnation  slumhereth  not  ;"  he  will  "  awake  to  everlasting  shame," 
will  "die  in  Ids  sins,"  and  "lift  up  hiv  eyes  in  hell,  being  in  torment." 

Is  not  all  this  true?  Is  it  not  written  in  the  hook  of  truth?  Are 
not  you  a  fallen  creature,  depraved,  spiritually  diseased  I  Do  not 
evil  influences  surround  and  threaten  you f  Is  there  not  guilt  oa 
your  conscience?  Then  is  your  soul,  mifc?  Oh  no,  nor  can  it  ever  be, 
"unless  .--ome  gracious  power  shall  subdue  your  depravity,  shield  you 
from  the  malice  of  your  spiritual  enemies,  and  save  you  from  the 
righteous  condemnation  of  God.  All  this  may  be  done  for  you;  God 
is  able  and  willing  to  do  it;  and,  all  this  being  done,  your  soul  would 
be  safe  for  ever. 

Did  you  ever  seriously  reflect  on  these  things;  ever  make  the  value 
and  danger  and  possible  salvation  of  your  soul  the  subject  of  deliberate 


8 

and  deep,  and  solemn  examination  and  inquiry;  ever  determine  to 
ascertain  what  reason  you  had  to  hope  for  future  happiness?  If  not^ 
you  have  neglected  the  first  and  most  momentous  duty  of  life. 

Thought,  deep,  earnest  thought,  on  the  state  and  prospects  of  your 
soul  is  the  first  step  in  rational  religion.  There  are  myriads  now  liv- 
ing in  sin  whom  one  hour  of  solemn  inquiry  and  fervent  prayer 
might,  humanly  speaking,  have  brought  to  God  ;  yea,  myriads  in  hell, 
whom  one  hour  of  such  ho  y  exercises  might  have  led  to  heaven. 

Do  we,  in  saying  this,  seem  to  you  to  undervalue  or  forget  the 
necessity  of  divine  influence  to  change  the  heart?  Then  you  mis- 
take the  means  by  which  the  Holy  Spirit  operates,  and  the  way  in 
which  his  gracious  power  must  be  sought.  It  is  in  such  moments  of 
solemn  reflection  that  divine  influence  is  impurted  and  on  such 
anxiously  inquiring  souls  that  the  blessed  Spirit  descends.  This 
happy  relation  between  reflection  and  return  to  God,  and  the  re- 
ception of  his  blessing,  is  beautifully  illustrated  in  the  parable  of  the 
prodigal.  "And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said,  I  will  arise,  and 
go  to  my  father ;  and  when  he  was  yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father 
saw  him,  and  had  compassion,  and  ran  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and 
kissed  him." 

Oh  yes,  God  marks  the  hour  of  solemn  reflection,  helps  the 
purpose  of  returning  to  himself,  and  hastens  to  meet  and  bless  tho 
coming  soul.  It  is  true,  then,  that  one  hour  of  solemn  thought  may 
save  a  soul.  Try  for  yourself  the  blessed  experiment.  Give  an 
hour,  and  give  it  now,  to  sjlf  examination  and  earnest  prayer.  God 
will  meet,  and  help,  and  bless  you ;  and  the  result  may  be  the 
salvation  of  your  soul. 


9 

YOUR  SOUL  MAY  BE  SAVED. 

To  warn  a  person  of  an  unavoidable  danger,  or  an  inevitable  cal- 
amity, would  be  not  merely  useless,  but  positively  cruel. 

Who  would  tell  the  happy  child  of  the  weaknesses  and  pains  of  thoso 
diseases  that  are  Incident  to  its  early  life  ?  Who  would  wish  that  the 
playful  lunb  could  foresee  the  slaughtering  knif;  ?  Niy,  who  would 
awaken  the  sleeping  criminal,  only  to  point  out  to  him  the  horrors 
of  that  ignominious  death  to  which  the  morning's  dawn  will  light 
him  ? 

Do  you  ask,  'Then  why  do  you  tell  the  sinner  of  his  depravity  and 
danger  and  fearful  condemnation  ?"  I  answer,  "Because  that  de- 
pravity may  be  subdued,  that  danger  may  be  averted,  and  that  sen- 
tence of  condemnation  may  be  cancelled  ;  yea,  exchanged  for  one  of 
pardon  and  blessing." 

Yes,  my  dear  reader,  your  soul  may  be  saved.  Do  you  ask, 
"Whereby  shall  I  know  this?''  The  Bible  ever  contemplates  man  as 
a  sinner,  and  addresses  him  only  as  a  sinner  ;  it  is  to  him  "the  word 
of  salvation."  All  its  revelations  are  the  unfoldings  of  the  work  of 
human  redemption  ;  all  its  invitations  say,  "L  ok  unto  me,  and  be 
saved  ;"  all  its  precepts,  "Wok  out  your  own  salvation  ;"  and  all  its 
promises,  "Behold,  your  God  will  come  with  vengeance,  even  God 
with  a  recompense  ;  he  will  come  and  save  you." 

Divine  mercy  has  provided  a  salvation  that  meets  all  t'ic  necessities 
of  our  lost  condition  ;  and  the  gospel  clearly  reveals  and  freely  offers 
that  salvation  to  all  men.  The  great  work  is  accomplished,  the  eter- 
nal blessings  are  prepared  ;  and  the  graci  ms  invitation  is  uttered. 
"Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready."  What  does  fallen  man  re- 
quire ;  depraved,  endangered,  and  condemned  as  he  is  ?  T  iere  mast 
be  pardon  for  Lis  guilt,  salification  for  his  impurity,  safeguard  from 
his  enemies  here,  and  a  home  of  rest  and  joy  and  glory  hereafter  ; 
and  all  these  God  has  provided  for  you. 

The  atonement  nfChri*t  insures forgirenes*  *o  every  one  who  be- 
lieves in  Him.  Forgiveness  is  the  great  want  of  the  condemned 
criminal.  What  to  him  are  the  cheerful  light  and  the  vital  air  ;  the 
flowering  spring  and  the  fruitful  summer  ;  the  glow  of  health  and  the 
words  of  sympathy  ?  He  must  Nave  mere}' and  pardon,  or  the  shad- 
ow of  death  rests  like  a  dark  cloud  on  all  that  is  bright  and  beautiful 
around  him. 

So  it  is  with  the  condemned  sinner.  Nothing  but  divine  forgivi»- 
ness  can  help  or  cheer  him  now,  The  awful  sentence  is  written  in 
that  holy  book;  is  whispered  by  the  voice  of  conscience;  is  read  in 
mystic  characters  upon  his  chamber  wall,  "Oh,  wicked  man,  thou 
shalt  surely  die  ;"  and  nothing  but  pardoning  inerey  can  meet  his  case. 
That  mercy  is  presented  to  him  in  Christ.  He  "came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners  ;"  -'gave  himself  for  us;"  and  there  is  "redemption 
through  his  blood,  ev.cn  the  forgiveness  of  sin."  He  stood  in  our 
frtcad;  "suffered  and  died  for  u~;"  honored,  by  his  perfect  obedience, 
the  law  we  had  broken  •  and  averted  the  curse  we  had  merited  by  on- 
during  it  on  our  behalf. 


10 

Now,  God  can  "bejust,  and  thejuslifier  ofhira  that  believeth;"  and 
a  full  and  free  forgive  nes  is  offered  to  every  sinner  who  trusts  in  Christ 

His  sins  are  "blotted  out,"  he  "is  justified  from  all  things,"  he  has 
"peace  with  God,"  and  "tliere  is,  therefore,  now    no    condemnation. * 

The  uniform  and  definite  language  of  the  gospel  is,  "Believe,  and  be 
saved:"  for  -'whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  not  perish,  but  shall 
have  eternal  life."'  Trust  in  Christ  then,  and  your  soul  will  be  safe — 
safe,  from  the  judicial  consequences  of  sin,  the  wrath  and  curse  of 
God,  and  condemnation  to  eternal  woes.  Oh,  reader,  think  on  your 
guilty  and  doomed  condition  ;  and  receive  and  rejoice  in  this  great  and 
blessed  truth,  that  "the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us 
from  all  sin." 

"Ileie,. sinners,  yon  may  heal  your  wounds, 
And  wijie  your  sorrows  dry  ;     * 
Trust  in  the  mighty  Saviour's  name, 
And  yuu  shall    never  d:e." 

Yes,  your  soul  may  be  save!  ! 

The  Holy  Spirit  will  sanctify  your  nature,  if  you  liumoly  asl-  TiU~* 
influence.  Pardort  is  not  enough  for  the  happiness  of  the  diseased 
criminal ;  he  wants  health  to  enjoy  the  blessing  of  freedom.  Res- 
cued from  condemnation  and  released  from  the  fetters  of  his  prison- 
house,  if  disease  still  prey  upon  his  vitals,  the  life  that  mercy  has 
granted  to  him  is  but  "a  time  to  die!"  Nor  is  divine  forgiveness 
alone  sufficient  for  the  happiness  of  degenerate  man  ;  be  needs  purity 
of  heart  Pardon  may  rescue  him  from  the  anger,  and  restore  him  to 
the  favor  ofGodV  but  it  alone  bestows  no  capacity  for  the  enjoyment 
of  that  favor.  The  merit  of  Jesus  redeems  the  believing  sinner  from 
hell;  bui  the  renewing  and  saniifyjng  power  of  the  blessed  Spirit  must 
prepare  him  for  heaven.  Now,  this  gracious  influence  is  offered  every 
believing  soul  in  answer  to  prayer. 

Ah,  what  riches  of  mercy  are.  here!  God  will  repair  the  moral 
ruin  which  we  have  wrought  in  our  hearts;  will  restore  the  purity 
which  our  sins  have  destroyed;  redraw  on  our  souls  his  own  lovely 
image,  which  we  had  obliterated;  raise  our  grovelling  •.  flections  again 
to  himself  and  heavqjp,  and  make  us  "meet  to  be  partakers  of  the  in- 
heritance of  the  saints  in  light" 

Hear  his  gracious  promises:  "And  T  will  give  them  one  heart,  and 
I  will  put  a  new  Spirit  within  you;  and  I  will  take  the  stony  heart 
out  cf  their  flesh,  and  will  give  them  a  heart  of  flesh:  that  they  may 
walk  in  my  statutes,  and  keep  my  ordinances,  and  do  them  :  and  they 
shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God." 

"Will  he  do  all  this  forme?"  you  ask;  Yes,  for  you,  and  for  every 
praymg  soul. 

How  tenderly  does  Jesus  meet  and  obviate  the  poor  sinner's  natural 
and  painful  doubt.  Fathers,  who  have  felt  paternal  tenderness;  and 
children,  who  have  known  a  lather's  love,  listen  to  the  words  of  your 
Redeemer:  "Ifye,  then,  being  evil,  know  how  togive  good  gifts  unto 
your  children,  how  much  more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him  V 


11 

Do  you  ask  how  the  Holy  Spirit  acts  upon  the  mind,  to  enlighten 
and  purify  and  coinfori  it  ?     J.  sus  answers  you,   The  wind  bloweth 

il  I'isteth,  and  thou  hearcst  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell 
whence  it  eo  •  eth,  and  whither  it  goeth:  even  so  is  every  one  that  is 
born  of  the  Spirit." 

That  divine  power  can  renew  and  sanctify  the  mind  is  a  truth  not 
hard  to  believe,  though  the  mode  of  its  operation  may  be  impassible 
to  comprehend-  God  formed  that  mind— formed  it  in  "the  beauty  of 
holiness  ;"  and  surely  he  can  form  it  anew,  and  restore  it  to  its  primi- 
tive condition.     Thai  the  Holy  Spirit  has  done  this,  is    proved  by  in- 

ahle  examples;  the  Bible  is  full  of  the  memorials  of  his  renovat- 
ing power.     All  the  knowledge  and  purity  and    virtue    that  adorned 

iracters  of  patriarchs  and  prophets  and  apostleaand  <  hvistians, 
■:ies  are  written  in  the  word  of  God,  were  ti 
this  divine  and  mighty  influence;  and  all  the  excellences  that  dis- 
tinguish living  believers  from  their  fellow-sinners,  and  from  l heir 
former  eelres,  are  the  fruits  ofthe  same  gracious  power.  That  gra 
Cious  power  can  give  life  a;;d  health  and  holiness  to  your  soul  ;  can 
impart  to  you  that  real  inward  piety  which  is  the  earnest  aid  th 
ginning  of  life  eternal.     Yes,  your  sonl  may  be  saved,  not  only    from 

.■ful  curse,  but  from  the  fatal  power  of  «ih;  may  not  only1  be 
pardoned  but  purified  ;  not  only  entitled  to  heaven  through  faith  in 
the  righteousness  of  Jesus,  but  prepared  for  heaven  by  "ihe  power  of 
the  Hoij  Ghost  ;"  and  you  may  say,  with  the  gratitude 
the  ap  istle,  ■'  According  to  Ids  mercy  he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  ot 
n,  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Yes,  your  soul  may 
be  saved,  only  pray. 

"Re-new  'nine  eves,  and  form  my  ears 
And  mould  my  heart  afresh  ; 
Give  me  new  passions,  joys,  and  feara, 

And  turn  the  stone  to  flesh." 

The  power  of  God  mil  shield  you  from  nil  your  spirUml/oet. 
Let  the  condemned  criminal  be  forgiven  ;  let  him  go  forth,  to  liberty, 
in  ner'ect  health  have  to  breathe  the  pestilential  air  ol  some 

1,  infested  by  ferocious  beasts,  and  inhabited  by  powerful 
and  merciless  enemies,  his  life  is  still  in  danger  So  would  it  he  with 
r  loned  and  renewed  soul,  if  if  were  not  ''kept  by  the  power  ot 
God'"'      1 1  is  kept    and  ever  shall  be;  ami  herein  is   its  safety. 

Do  von  say,  '■  But  cannot  1  keep  myself?  1  am  free  to  will  and  to 
wt"  Alas  dear  reader,  you  are  not  so  free  ;  for  "the  world,  the 
fl^l,  .  dl,"  are  in  league  against  you.    You   are  influenced 

by  the  opinions  and  habits  of  those  around  you  ;  you  are  subject  to 
divers  lusta  and  passions  ;  "  Bod  without  the  help  of  God,  y*  a  will 
tive  bv  the  devil  at  his  will."  "i  <  u  have  lost  your  spirit- 
ual liberty  and  your  moral  power  by  sin  ;  and  you  cannot  keep  your- 
telf  from  the  dangers  that  threaten  you.  ' 

lb,  yen  ask  "If  I  am  pard««nod  and  renewed,  am  1  not  able  to 
ward  off  the  attacks  of  my  spiritual  Fo.  s  ?"  No  ;  net  by  you*  own 
Strength,  even  then.  Hear  the  acknowledgments  ol  the  apnstle  : 
"We  are  not  sufficient  of  ourselves  to  do  any    thing   as  ol  ourselves  ; 


12 

our  sufficiency  is  of  God  ;"  "When  I  would  do  good,  evil  is  present 
with  me — how  to  perform  that  which  is  good,  I  tind  not."  I  And  "a 
law  in  my  members  warring  against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and  bring- 
ing me  into  captivity  to  the  law  of  sin,  which  is  in  my  members." 
It  is  through  too  much  dependence  upon  themselves,  and  too  little  on 
the  grace  of  God,  that  so  many  professors,  and  even  Christians,  fall 
into  sin.  The  self  dependent  are  ever  in  danger  ;  and  the  soul  that 
humbly  and  steadfastly  trusts  in  God  is  always  safe;  hence  the  singular 
and  paradoxical  saying  of  Paul,  ''When  I  am  weak,  then  am  1  strong." 
Your  spiritual  enemy  is  too  cunning  and  loo  mighty  for  you.  He  is 
an  angel,  though  a  fallen  one  ;  and  still  he  has  an  angel's  intelligence, 
and  an  angel's  power.  He  has  studied  the  human  heart  for  nearly 
six  thousand  years,  and  intimately  knows  all  its  diversities  of  de- 
pravity, the  avenues  by  which  it  may  most  readily  be  assaulted,  and 
the  means  and  motives  that  will  most  easily  seduce  it  from  religion 
and  God  ;  and  if  you  do  not  simply  and  constantly  depend  on  '-power 
from  on  high,"  he  will  accomplish  your  ruin.  But  the  gospel  tells 
you  of  unsleeping  eyes  that  will  watch  over  you,  of  everlasting  arms 
that  will  encircle  you,  and  of  almighty  power  that  will  shield  you 
from  harm.  It  assures  you  that  "they  (hat  trust  in  the  Lord  shall 
be  as  mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  moved,  but  abideth  for  ever." 
Yes,  your  soul  may  be  safe  ;  but  this  cannot  be,  unless  you  believs 
in  Jesus,  and  simply  and  heartily  rely  on  the  merit  of  his  sacntice. 
It  cannot  be,  unless  you  seek,  in  earnest  prayer,  the  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  yield  your  heart  to  his  transforming  power.  It 
cannot  be,  unless  you  reuount-c  all  self-dependence,  and  rest  aione  on 
the  safe  keeping  of  God.  Clien  your  safety  will  be  inviolable  ;  it  will 
be  guaranteed  by  all  the  infinite  perfections  of  Jehovah  ;  by  his  un- 
changing love,  his  almighty  power,  and  his  eternal  truth  ;  and  yon 
may  sing — 

"Finn  as  the  earth  thy  gospel  stands, 
My  Lord,  my    hope,    my  trust; 
If!  urn  found    in  Jehus'  hands, 
My  soul  can    u  e'er  be    lost. 


13 


YOU  MAY  KNOW  THAT  YOUR  SOUL  IS  SAFE. 

1r  1  could  tell  you  of  seme  certain  way  of  insuring  the  safety  of  the 
earthly  things  that  are  dearest  to  you,  your  personal  comforts,  your 
property,  your  beloved  relative? — if  I  could  unfold  some  infallible 
method  of  averting  disease  and  death  from  you  and  yours,  with  what 
attention  would  you  listen  to  the  disclosure  ot  the  happy  plan,  with 
what  eagerness  would  you  adopt  it,  and  with  what  ecstasy  rejoice  in 
the  confidence  that  the  dear  objects  of  y<  ur  greatest  care  were  secure 
from  every  harm.  Will  you  be  so  earnestly  attentive — will  you  so 
eagerly  adopt  the  prescribed  means,  and  so  deeply  rejoice  in  the  hope 
of  security, while  I  tell  you  how  you  may  be  assured  that  your  precious 
pool  is  safe,  and  safe  forever?  Yes,  secure  from  the  condemnation  of 
God,  from  the  deadly  power  of  sin,  from  the  malice  of  its  spiritual  foe.-, 
and  from  the  dreadful  miseries  of  hell. 

You  may  suppose  your  soul  is  already  safe,  but  that  supposition  is  no 
certain  evidence  of  it*  seem  'city.  It  may  be,that  your  confidence  is  more 
the  result  of  indifference  than  of  enlightened  and  earnest  inquiry,  the 
mere  delusion  of  a  spiritual  slumber,  in  which  the  threatened  danger 
is  do!  seen,  nor  the  gracious  warning  heard  ;  and  d learning  of  secu- 
rity and  happines,  you  may  cry,  "Peace,  peace,  when  sudden  destruc- 
tion comcth  upon  you,  and  you  cannot  escape." 

Or  the  confidence  may  be  the  result  of  ignorance  of  the  character  of 
God,  and  the  guiltiness  of  sin,  and  the  way  of  salvation  through 
Christ;  ignorance  of  that  awful  justice  that  "will  by  no  means  clear 
the  guilty  ;"  of  that  righteous  condemnation  which  has"  passed 
upon  all  men,  because  all  have  sinned  ;"  and  of  the  nature  of  thai 
£uth  by  which  alone  the  sinner  can  obtain  pardon  and  salvation  in 
the  work  of  theKedecmer. 

You  may  thinic  your  soul  secure  while  it  is  in  eternal  peril,  unless 
saying,  "Thy  testimonies  are  my  counsellors,"  you  carefully  inquire 
and  examine  and  ascertain  what  is  the  appointed  and  only  ground  of 
safety,  and  how  that  "Rock  of  ages"  can  be  reached  and  relied  upor. 

Do  not  think  that  confidence  of  security  is  necessarily  a  state  ot 
salvation.     Beware  of  delusion  here  ;  for, 

"He  that  never  doubted  of  his  state, 
He  may,  perhaps— perhaps  he  may  too  late." 

Oh,  beware  of  delusion  here  ;  remember  it  is  your  soul  that  is  at 
Ktake— it  is  its  happiness  for  ever  :  and  there  are  false  hop  s — there 
are  "refuges  of  lies,"  and  you  may  go,  the  victim  of  delusion,  to  the 
very  gate  of  heaven  ;  tor  (.'hfist  has  said,  "Then  shall  ye  begin  tw 
say.  We  have  eaten  and  drunk  in  thy  presence,  and  ihou  hast 
taught  in  our  streets.  But  he  shall  say,  I  tell  you,  1  know  not  whence 
yc.arc." 

Do  not  understand  me  to  mean,  on  the  other  hand,  that  »n 
assurance  of  safety  is  essential  to  the  salvation  of  your  soul.  No  ;  the 
trembling  child  is  as  ?afe,  in  the  impregnable  citadel,  as  the  mightiest 
hero,  though  it  cannot  ui.derstand  the  strength  of  the  bulwarks  whirl; 
shelter  it.  The  shipwrecked  mariner  is  safe  when  ho  reaches  the 
land,  though  the  darknef-s  prevents  his  recognizing  his  native  thot« 


H 

and  the  humble  foul  tint  (rusts  in  Jesus  is  secure,  though  he  rmy 
doubi  whether  ho  is  really  in  the"  hiding-place,  fiom  the  wind,  and 
the  covert  from  .tli  "     Ids  the  actual  p  iner'a 

Boul,  and  not  his  perception  of  that  position  that  constitutes 
the  reality  of  iU  humble  trusting   faith,  and  and  not  the  rejoicing  of 
it:,  the  firmness  of  th  vi  rock,  and  not  the  full   assurance   of  the  hope 
that  rests  upon  it.  which  insures  salvation. 
Yet,  to   know   that  1  am   safe,  is  necessary  to  ray   present  hap- 
.  though  it  is    not   so    to   my   eternal    bliss.     Then  how 
we  know  thai  our  souls  are 

In    this  inquiry   we   must  Utterly  discard   all    hums  s,  all 

the   deductions  and  di  '.'  picre  reason,  is  to  ;  be  or 

to  be  enough  for  the    safely  of  a  soul.     We  n  9   only 

I  character  and.  will  of.  the  great  La".  'at  his 

.  ■  final  decispn  will  be  giv<  n,  and  he  will  decide  according  to  his 

o  ■!,  law,  •  .ml  not  according  to  the  judgment  of  his  creatures.     All  our 

in  tips  matter  must  be  gathered  from  the  assurances  and 

llhisl  upples  of  his  holy  word. 

Let  us   pondei    that   blessed  bpok    together    then  ;  and  if  I  cannot 

ou  into  those   h  7   peace  where  shii.es  the 

"full  assurance  of'hope,"  i  may,  by  the  help  of  God,  bring  you  to  that 

humbler  point,  where  you  will  have,  and  fepl(  that  you   have  a  right 

to  hope. 

t  blessed  word  tells  us  that,   by.  Christ,  "all    that   believe   are 
;"    that"   there  is   therefore,  now  no  con- 
nation  to  them  that,  are  in  Christ  Jesus."' 
II  •.-.,■  j  ou  felt  your  sinfulness,  your  lost  condition  as   a  sinner,  and 
"  tie  1  .  10  lay  hold  Up  >u  the  hope  set  before  VOU?"     Is  it  the 

i    solemn  'utterance    of  your  heart,  "  Lord,  snt   me,  or  I 
perish  I" 

"Other  rer,.i£<>  have  I  none, 
Ilaaps  my  helpless  soul  on  thee  ?" 

rp|Vi,  '  »ice  in  the  assurance  of  God,  that  ''whosoever 

U  not  perishj  brJt  have  everliStinglife  ;n,and  in 
"  1  give    unto  fiuin  eternal   life,  and  they  shall 
ncv  ■  t  shall  any  pluck  tiiem  out  of  my  ban  I." 

Your  soul  safe!  <    ^  • 

Have  j  ou  experienced  a.  change  of  mind  ?     Is  j  our  mind  enlighten- 
ed to  perceive   the   paramount   importance  of,  spiritual    an  I    ■ 

yousay1  "0  'C  thkig  1  know,  that  whereas  1  was  blind, 
,,u  heart  been    rene 
ected  to  God  and  Chi-t  and  heaven?  T! 

if  God  in  your  Boul,  and  rejoice  in  his  blesK- 

\Toyounow  humhly  depending  on  the' help  of  GocUo  strengthen 

vo„  t,,  ,)«)  his  holy  will,  and  to  i    from    the  power  of  your 

spiritual  enemies?  Is  the  habitual  fueling  of' your  heart  dependence, 
a,  d  its  daily  prayer,  "Hold  thou  me  up,  and  I  Then 

vou  arc  "kept  by  the  power  of  God;"  "underneath  thee  are  the  ever- 
Lstii  -  arris  ;"  and  vou  inav  rejoice  in  that  eternal  Safe-  kTCpThg,  and 


15 

say,  "I  »tn  persuaded   that   neither  death,    nor  life,  nor   ante's,  nor 
princi;  powers,  nor  things  nor  things  to  come, 

nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor-  to  separata 

us  from  the  lave  of  God,  which  is  in  Olirist  Jesus  our  Lord.'*' 

Oh  yes,  relying  on  tho  a(  :'  Jesus,  renewed  by  hfo  Spirit, 

?:il   :onfidiog  in  his  rare,  your  soul  is  safe 

Aodnow;  dear  reader,  is  rouR  »0  rot  slight   this  mo- 

ment ms  question  ;  do  not  shrink  from  it ;  <io  not  hastily  decide  it.  Ke 

heaven: 
or  hell.  Lot  m  •  affocti  mately  entreat  you  to  give  one  hour  to  amx- 
iou.-,  thought  and  earnest  prayer. 

is  nay  aoql,  myself,  my  i  ojnor  al  nature.  Think,  again, 
ofthe  perils  to  which  that  soul  is  exposed  by  sin,  of  the  merciful 
provision  do  1  ins  made  for  its  salvation,  and  of  the  scriptural  • 

v  to  pr .!■.-■  jr.     Pray  that thedloly  Spirit  would 

liries  and ''lead  you  into  all    truth,"  lest  you  should 
be  deluded  through  indifference,  or  ignorance,  or    pn  - 

•  r  thai  the  real    condition  of  your  s<  u'  is  known  to   GoJ,  witb- 
ly  doubt  or  peradventure,  and    earnes  ly  a^k    him   to  make   it 
known  i.     If  you  are  redly  in  dinger  of  condemnation  and 

perditi  or  ignorance  w ill  not  lessen  year  peril,  nor  for 

one  moment  retard  your  eternal  ruin  ;  an  I  if  you  are  in  a  state  of  safe- 
Id  be  happy  for  you  to    now  that  you  are   so.     Then  give 
one  hour  to  solemn  i inquiry  and  earne.-l  prayer. 

erhaps  a  ;  ion,   and   associated  With   the 

but  "all  are  not  Israel    that  are  of  Tsrael ;"  and  I 

still  s  iy  to  you,  Is  your  soul  safe  ':  are  you  s-ure  of  it?     "Give 

:e  to    make  your  calling  and  ele 

Y<  u  have  perhaps  neglected  religion,  tnsoared  by  fie  pleasures,  or 

by  the  aires  of  the  present  world.     You  do  not  know,  you 

have  not  inquired  the  state  of  your  soul. 

i  have  a  soul  ;  I  am  a  spirit,  an  immortal  spirit  ;  and 

life  may  please  my  animal  natu 

nothing  to  my  nobler  being.     I  am  an  undying  mind,  and  though  the 

ofthe  thil  d  exalt    my  intel- 

ure,  thej  are  only  of  brief  existence,     I  want  the  knowledge 

(if  things  enduring  as  myself,  of  heaven,  and  Christ,  and  God.     I  am  a 

spirit,  adcathlcs-  spirit  ;  and  though  the  |  ofthe   things  of 

time  may  enrich  me  now,  I  should  aspire  to  "durable riches" — "an  in- 

u^tible,  and  undented,  und  that  fedeth  not  away" — to 

my  final  home,  and  to  <i"d  as  my  eternal  portion.     These 

.  new  t  >  you,  it  may  be.  or  have  only  occupied  your  mini 

low  of  your  more  serious  moments  ;  then  how  can  you  expect  to 

know  that  your  soul  is  sat'w  ? 

you  are  seriously  saying,  "Oh  that  I  had  this  happy    C  I  i- 
y  I  hope  to  obtain  it  ?"     How  haVe  you  sought 
it  V     It  is  not  the  reward  of  indolence,  or  of  occasional  and    he 

i  ;.i!-.     \  on  must  diligently  use  the  appointed  means  of  grace  ; 

must  re  d  and  study  the    holy    word   with    attention,    humility,  and 

prayer.     "Search  ihe  Scriptures,  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eter- 

e,  and  thej  which   testify  of  ME."    There  alone  you 


16 

can  learn  the  requirements  of  his  holy   will,   the   provisions   of  his 
merry,  and  the  spirit  and  character  of  his  Hue  disciples. 

You  must  attend  the  ordinances  of  divine  appointment,  not  occa- 
sionally, but  constantly  ;  not  for  half  the  Sabbath,  but  during  all  its 
hallowed  hours.  You  are  contented  or  compelled  to  £>ive  the  whole 
of  s!a  days  to  your  worldly  interests  ;  you  must  give  at  least  the 
seventh  with  equal  diligence  to  your  bpiritual  welfare,  nor  act  nor 
feel  as  if  temporal  things  were  more  necessary  or  more  precious  than 
eternal  things.  You  must  "pray  without  ceasing;"  be  frequent  and 
earnest  and  importunate  in  supplication  to  God  ;  must  ask  for  light 
and  purity  and  hope,  as  the  hungry  ask  for  food,  the 'suffering  for 
ease,  or  the  dying  for  coi'tinucd  life.  You  must  make  religion  the 
business  of  your  life,  your  daily  life.  No  business  is  so  important  ; 
none  will  so  certainly  succeed,  nor  yield  such  rich  returns. 

There  i-  holy  wisdom — that  which  maketh  "wise  unto  salvation  :v' 
and  "if  thou  seekest  her  as  silver,  and  searches!  for  her  as  for  hid 
treasures,  then  shalt  thou  understand  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find, 
the  knowledge  of  God."  There  is  a  teaching  Spirit,  one  that  "search- 
thai)  things,  even  the  deep  things  of  God  j1'  and  if  you  seek  ;.:;.] 
ask  his  instructions,  "he  will  lead  you  into  all  truth,"  will  "take  of 
the  things  of  Christ,  and  show  them  untoyou."  There  are  evidences, 
definite  and  infallible  evidences  of  ersonal  piety  ;  and  if  you  study 
and  understand  and  culivate  them,  you  may  know^thntyou  "have  pas- 
sed from  death  unto  life,  and  shall  not  come  into  condemnation." 

Yes,  there  is  yet  a  Pisgah  in  the  wilderness  ;  and  though  the  ascent, 
to  it  he  steep  and  tiresome,  the  devoted  and  determined  soul  may 
reach  its  top,  and  see  the  far-off  glories  of  the  heavenly  Canaan.  Yon 
may  know  that  your  soul  is  safe. 

Dear  reader,  look  again  through  these  simple  pages,  and  listen  to 
their  cautions  and  instructions  and  exhortations,  as  to  the  voice  of  a 
kind  and  faithful  friend,  one  who  has  prayed,  and  will  yet  pray  that 
the  perusal  of  this  little  book  may,  by  the  blcssrng  of  Almighty  God, 
lead  you  to  care  for  the  eternal  welfare  of  your  precious  soul,  to  seeV. 
and  nod  in  Christ  its  present  and  everlasting  salvation,,  and  to  KNOW 
THAT  YOUIl  SOUL  IS  SAFE. 


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